Fred's Health Talk

The medicare coverage and reimbursement rules for the H1N1 vaccine are as follows:

As stated by the CMS, “Part B deductible and coinsurance do not apply for the seasonal influenza virus vaccine and its administration. the seasonal influenza vaccine is administered once a year in the fall or winter. Additional influenza vaccines are covered by Medicare when deemed to be a medical necessity. the Influenza A (H1N1) virus has been identified as an additional type of influenza. Medicare will pay for the administration of the H1N1 vaccine.

* G9141 – (H1N1) immunization administration (must include physician counseling
the patient/family)

* G9142 – Influenza (H1N1) vaccine, any route of administration

Please note: The vaccine is provided to the doctors at no cost, you will not be able to bill for the vaccine.

Medicare will reimburse Medicare beneficiaries, up to the fee schedule amount, for the administration of H1N1 influenza vaccine when furnished by a provider not enrolled in Medicare.

Medicare will pay for seasonal flu vaccinations even if the vaccinations are rendered earlier in the year than normal.”

For additional information, please visit the CMS website.

Also, The American Medical Association (AMA) issued a clarification regarding the appropriate method of reporting codes for the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine and administration.
It is appropriate to report general pandemic vaccine
code 90663 (Influenza virus vaccine, pandemic formulation) for the H1N1 vaccine, according to a notification that was sent out to AMA listserv subscribers on August 12.

Coders may report the appropriate immunization administration code (CPT codes 90465–90474) in conjunction with code 90663 for the administration of the vaccine, depending on the route of administration and the age of the patient.

Are there any risks associated with H1N1 vaccines?

According to the CDC, those at high risk for the H1N1 virus are children under 2, individuals over 65, pregnant women
, individuals with certain chronic medical conditions
such as asthma, diabetes, and HIV, and children under 19 on aspirin therapy. For the high risk group, the H1N1 vaccine risks may be worth the reward.

The H1N1 virus is more likely to claim the lives of one of the high-risk individuals than it is someone who is completely healthy. Pregnant women and those caring for infants under 6 months of age are suggested recipients of the H1N1 vaccine. The H1N1 vaccine risks may be worth it for those trying to protect their children from the virus.
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Another concern about the vaccine stems from a complications with a vaccine for a different type of swine flu back in 1976. The flu struck a military base in New Jersey, and the government launched a large- scale vaccination campaign. 40 million Americans were immunized, but the campaign was halted because over 500 people developed a paralyzing neurological condition called Guillain-Barre syndrome. The chance of this occurring again are smaller, according to the World Health, because “today’s vaccines are more purified.”

However, the full safety profile of any vaccine is unknown until it has been used on a large scale. Still, that’s one of the H1N1 vaccine risks that freaks people out. According to Dr. Jennifer Ashton, GBS is a “rare, neurologic disorder that has elements of an auto-immune condition in that some trigger (usually an infection or rarely a vaccination against an infection) results in a progressive weakening of nerves. GBS starts in the legs and works its way up the body.”

80% of GBS patients have a full recovery about a month after their onset of symptoms. 2 to 3 people can die of this disorder. What about season flu vaccine? Could seasonal flu vaccine increase H1N1 risk? Preliminary findings from a study by the B.C. Centre for Disease Control suggest those who took the seasonal vaccine could be more susceptible to H1N1. The revelation comes as flu season hits some B.C. schools hard.

Act of cleansing your colon through dubious Colon Cleanse programs can actually expose you to number of side effects. Colon Cleansing is practiced worldwide by people to remain healthy. Although pursuing Colon Cleanse program can be an excellent means to improve the condition and functions of your bowel and colon, there are often some negative traits which need to be overcome first. The negative side effects of Colon Cleanse depend on how fast detoxification program runs in your body. As the toxins start coming out of your cells, they happen to cause migraines, nausea, flu like symptoms and even anxiety.

Excessive Use Of Herbs Cause Side Effects

Answer to the question is yes. You will be surprised to know that Herbs of specific kind, if taken in excess of required quantity, can also cause side effects. Many Colon Cleansing products use certain herbs because they possess properties for natural constipation relief. However, after conducting an extensive research, researchers discovered that excessive use of specific herbs can actually cause more harm than good.

Dependency Of Your Bowel On Herbs: A Nagging Worry

Excessive use of Senna or Cascara Sagrada(Herbs), can lead your bowel to become dependent on the herb. This, further, means that Herb will become indispensable for you, just to have a simple bowel movement. Bowel Dependency is one of the most important colon cleansing side effects that you need to be cautious of. However, there are many other side effects that consumers should be aware of prior to taking any colon cleansing product!

Possible Side Effects of Colon Cleansing

Before undergoing a Colon Cleanse, it is important that you are fully aware of the various side effects that could negatively influence the body and mind, e.g. Severe Cramps, Bloating, Nausea, Abdominal Pain, Electrolyte imbalance, Bloody Diarrhea, Urine Discoloration, Liver Toxicity and other problems. These side effects occur during and after a colon cleanse simply because the body goes into a type of shock as it is detoxified and cleaned. The shorter the cleansing process, the more serious the symptoms can be, even leading to a deep yet short lived depression. The worst part tends to be over within a week and is nothing compared to the beneficial side effects of a colon cleanse. Things seem to get worse before they get better as the body is subjected to a sudden yet necessary detox.

An Unhealthy Lifestyle Can Shock During Colon Cleansing
The more unhealthy your lifestyle has been, the deeper the shock when your body releases all those toxic residues. Rapid cleansing can cause some punishing side effects but a colon cleanse does not need to be so dramatic. If you keep your body in a moderately healthy condition between each cleansing process, you’ll notice that it gets easier all the time as this alleviates detoxification of your body.

An Extensive Research On Various Colon Cleansers Could Be Of Help

There are different ways to cope up with the uncomfortable experience of Colon Cleansing side effects. First and foremost, do the proper amount of research before buying or trying any colon cleansing item. If you are worried about the potentially dangerous effects of certain colon cleansing herbs, then it is best to avoid herbal colon cleansers altogether.

A Litany Of Fiber Food Must Be Made And Adhered To

Make sure you follow the proper diet pattern while undergoing a colon cleansing program. Don’t eat junk food and soda while Colon Cleansing is on. This is not going to help, in fact, it can cause the colon cleansing product to be ineffective, thus wasting your time and money. It is best to follow a healthy diet, consisting of lots of fruits & veggies, while taking a colon cleanser.

Probiotics: Beneficial During Colon Cleansing:

It may be wise to look into taking a probiotic (substance containing beneficial microorganisms which help restore the balance of microflora in the digestive tract) while cleansing. Researches has shown that probiotics have a lot of promises in easing symptoms of digestive disorders and certain food sensitivities, while naturally enhancing the colon cleansing experience.

A Parting Statement

From the above discussion, you must have clearly understood that a colon cleaning procedure is essential for maintaining good health. It should therefore be carried out by each and every individual. At the same time, you need to choose only the best colon cleanser to avoid unnecessary complications.

Colon cleansing is becoming increasingly popular these days. Why Colon Cleansing Is So Important? Colon cleansing is very important because it is the sewage system of our body. Do you really need to cleanse your colon?

Like anything else, it is all about education and understanding. In the event you are on a poor diet then it may seem logical that you need to cleanse and detox. While this may seem like common sense, it does not mean that it is true. There is also a common misconception that one needs to undergo a dramatic or extreme detox in order to achieve the best results.
In reality, a detox does not have to be inconvenient or unpleasant. The purpose of a detox is simple, get rid of debris accumulated over time. So what are the benefits of colon cleansing.

It is said that when you remove the unwanted debris in your colon that you may experience weight loss. There are other reported advantages also, such as improving your complexion and overall health.
Basically detox and colon cleansing set out to achieve the same objective and that is to rid your body of toxins. The key to colon cleansing is to increase the level of bowel movements. Frequency and regularity will help to initiate this process of cleansing your colon.

I must also suggest at this juncture that eating the right foods can help with cleansing your colon. Poor diet, after all, means poor health. Generally, when you eat food, your body will extract what it needs for nutritional purposes and discard the rest.
That is why the more poor food you eat, will result in more waste in your colon, which if coupled with poor bowel movements, will result in a build up of toxins that will affect the overall performance of your body.
So yes, keeping your colon clean is important and yes, herbal supplements can be helpful to do this. As they say, keep it simple and continue to educate yourself on the subject of food. You are to a certain degree what you eat. Internally, just as externally, you need to keep clean, as this will help you to have a better quality of life resulting in a happier, healthier you.
Herbal supplements for colon cleansing are effective if used with caution and as part of a complete program to improve your health as a whole.

Colon is one of the most important parts of our body which affects us either directly or indirectly. A number of people are suffering today with these health problems such as constipation, abdominal pain and lack of energy. All these problems are caused by the wrong drinking and eating habits and breathing polluted air. When we go against the intends of nature we will harm ourselves. When your colon is clogged up, your liver can not perform its entire job properly and it will be the invitation for the harmful diseases like colon cancer and heart attack as well. When your liver can’t work in a proper way then your kidney system will also fail and it also cannot work in an efficient way. To get a better health , we have to start colon cleansing as early as possible. In this way, colon cleansing becomes very significant to maintain for getting better health. Colon cleansing is also very essential in order to get clear skin, improved constipation level, increased level of energy, absorption of minerals and vitamins, and overall healthy feeling from food and water in a better and efficient way.

For better health, it is so important that our colon works in a proper way and also for removing these toxic excretions in timely way. Most of us really do not understand the importance of colon. Earlier researches show that almost 90% of diseases in United States of America are attributed by an unhealthy colon directly or indirectly. The colon is looked upon as the most solid waste management for the entire human body and it is also considered as the easiest propagation ground for the effective or dangerous bacteria. In an national survey, it is found that 6 people out of every ten are having problems with their colon. Any healing process related to any of the disease is simply impossible without colon cleansing. The colon cleansing process also decreases the toxic load on each part of our body system. When we compromise with our colon health the waste will turn in toxic and it will be release in our blood. The nutrients which make their way for the blood vessels are all done through the way of your colon. If you have some dirty sign of colon clogging like poor digestion then you should start natural colon cleansing without hesitation.Colon Cleansing from Bowtrol, ColoFlush and Advanced Colon Care are your choices.Take charge of your health now.

Pain in the belly (abdomen) can come from conditions affecting a variety of organs. The abdomen is an anatomical area that is bounded by the lower margin of the ribs above, the pelvic bone (pubic ramus) below, and the flanks on each side. Although abdominal pain can arise from the tissues of the abdominal wall that surround the abdominal cavity (i.e., skin and abdominal wall muscles), the term abdominal pain generally is used to describe pain originating from organs within the abdominal cavity (i.e., beneath the skin and muscles).

A stomachache can be all of these or just plain mid-body misery. And the possible causes are equally diverse and mysterious: gallstones, lactose intolerance, ulcers, heartburn, irritable bowel syndrome, stress, overeating. Or not eating enough. Or eating improperly prepared food in an unhygienic restaurant. (For more details, read about irritable bowel syndrome on page 322.)

Some kids get abdominal pain because they ate too much of something, ate a food that was too spicy or greasy, ate a food they have an allergy to, or ate food that sat around in the fridge for too long and went bad. The pain is the body’s way of telling you that your stomach and intestines are having a tough job breaking down or digesting this food. For example, some people have lactose intolerance, which means they have a tough time digesting lactose, a type of sugar found in milk and other dairy foods. Whatever the cause, funky foods can quickly make your tummy feel funky!

Home Remedies for Stomach Ache

Eat an herb which aids digestion, such as ginger (ginger-ale, or ginger snaps), peppermint (gum and candy cane as long as it is real peppermint) or Aloe Vera Juice (an anti-parasitic that tastes terrible but aids digestion). Similar herb teas that help digestion include mint, ginger or chamomile tea.

Take a small piece of ginger and grate it. Thereafter, squeeze out its juice. Apply the juice on the bottom of your belly and massage gently. It is an effective home remedy for stomach ache.

Drink regular tea with freshly squeezed lemon or honey. This will definately help in the relaxation of the stomach. Do not put sugar in the tea if you are drinking it with lemon or honey. This will make the tea useless.

Eat yogurt. It contains bacteria your stomach is lacking during an upset stomach. My microbiology professor and others have said this and I personally tried it and it works.

Eat yogurt. It contains bacteria your stomach is lacking during an upset stomach. My microbiology professor and others have said this and I personally tried it and it works.

Loosen your belt. If your stomach is distended from IBS, you can loosen your belt. If you’re tightly buttoned and belted up, try switching to comfortable, loose clothing, which can ease the pressure on your aching stomach, says Dr. Borum. (It’s obvious only after you think of it.)

Take the charcoal from the fire and mash it up in a small cup(preferably plastic so it don’t shatter when mashing up the charcoal)add just enough water to cover the smashed charcoal and drink it. I have seen the military do this before so i know that it will work. It will be pretty hard to get it down because it tastes really bad but you will feel alot better if you get it down guaranteed.Or if you have charcoal tablets just take however many the package says. I promise this will work.

Strain and offer warm or at room temperature (depending on your child’s preference) in 1?2 cup doses as needed.

There is one thing that is certain. If you have acid reflux disease
you will know it without much of a doubt. There are enough symptoms that will tell you there is something seriously wrong. Chances are the occasional heartburn does not qualify as acid reflux disease. This is just a little upset stomach that occurs only after you eat or drink certain things. Chronic heartburn is a symptom of acid reflux disease.

If you are a sufferer, the acid reflux disease symptoms you have may be:

1. Chronic Heartburn
2. Pain in the chest
3. Problems swallowing
4. Hoarseness, dental problems and asthma
5. Bringing food back up into the mouth

There are other minor symptoms that can be associated with acid reflux such as wearing tight pants. They can push on the stomach thereby making the acid in the stomach work its way into the upper stomach and right on up to the esophagus. This can happen especially after eating a heavy meal.

If you have acid reflux on a regular basis you probably have GERD (gastro esophageal reflux disease). In essence, what happens is the stomach starts doing its job by digesting the food using acid and enzymes. This makes its way into the small intestine normally but if you have acid reflux, it goes into the esophagus instead. This causes swelling and damage to the esophagus.

There are many foods that cause this problem. Some are more prone to cause the problems of acid reflux. If you have noticed after you eat chocolate or drink a cup of coffee, you have exhibit acid reflux disease symptoms, then this is something that does not agree with your stomach and should be avoided.

Eating should be avoided several hours before retiring for the night. When you lie down with a stomach full of food, this is inviting acid reflux. The food starts to digest and the stomach acid starts building and when you lie down, suddenly you are in terrible pain and you feel as if you are going to vomit. Sitting up relieves it a little but not entirely. Once it has started, every time you swallow your chest feels as if it is on fire.

Sometimes we think that drinking milk will help the acid reflux. In some people it does, but in others it does not. This is because it goes into the stomach and mixes with the acid and all of a sudden you have sour milk as well as whatever else you have consumed. There are a few things that will help such as antacids, but they only help for a short time. Some people have reported when taking the mint flavored antacids they actually made the heartburn worse. This may be why antacid is not recommended for those suffering from heartburn that is a symptom of GERD.

Two more things that can worsen the symptoms of acid reflux are being overweight and being pregnant. This is due to the extra pressure on the abdomen. This in turn pushes on the stomach contents and into the esophagus they go. If you are suffering from frequent heartburn and have any or all of the acid reflux disease symptoms mentioned above you should seek the advice of your doctor.

Having an upset stomach is certainly no picnic for anyone, and though eating may be one of the last things on your mind when you have an upset stomach, its still important to fuel your body. So what should you eat that wont make the situation worse?

One of the most important things to note when it comes to eating when you have an upset stomach is what not to eat. It is always best to avoid any foods that are particularly greasy or sugary, especially fried foods.

Also keep in mind that dehydration is always a concern when it comes to illness, especially if your upset stomach involves vomiting or diarrhea. Staying hydrated is imperative since your body needs the precious water to help flush out any waste, bacteria or virus that may be causing your upset stomach. Water, hot teas, and sports drinks are always a good choice, but if your upset stomach comes with any other symptoms that make it difficult to drink, popsicles are an excellent way to keep yourself hydrated without drinking.

Teas are an especially good choice especially if you use some old-fashioned herbal knowledge to brew a great stomach-soothing mix. Fennel and ginger is great since the fennel is a natural remedy for gas and stomach cramps, and ginger is a fabulous natural soother of upset stomachs. Mint, cinnamon, and thyme also make great teas because they help move wastes out of the system. Of course the warmth of the teas is always a welcome and soothing property alone.

Of course, it is worth noting that modern ginger ale has little to no actual ginger in it, so unless you just enjoy drinking it when you are sick, it really isnÕt helping you in this respect. However, the carbonation in modern ginger ale and other sodas is sometimes soothing, so they could be a good choice as long as they are non-caffeinated since the caffeine can upset your stomach even more.

As for solid foods, clear soups like plain broths or chicken noodle are always a good choice. Not only are they gentle on the system, but they are comforting and they help keep you feeling warm even if you have a fever with your upset stomach. Other bland foods like apple sauce, oatmeal, bananas, crackers, rice and boiled chicken are all very unlikely to aggravate an upset stomach, so you can feel confident making a meal out of any of them.

Since everyones body is different, what constitutes a good light meal for your upset stomach may spell an even more unhappy tummy for someone else. Because of this it is important that you trust your instincts when it comes to any suggestion. If your gut reaction (quite literally in this case!) is that a particular food spells trouble then by all means avoid it.

Ease Heartburn, gas and bloating using Trivitas Digestive Complex.Tablets contain enzymes to ensure complete digestion. They help to improve bowel health which increases nutrient assimilation and regular elimination.One of the main ingredients in Trivita Digestive Complex is acidophilus.This helps protect your body from intestinal infections.

To learn more about this and other Trivita products, or to become involved in a home nutrition business with Trivita, contact me.

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a construction worker? From the moment we get up, our day is in stark contrast to that of a typical office job. The early morning hours – the ones right before starting the work day, are the only “routine” hours of the day. And for me, they are particularly enjoyable.

If you were a construction worker, this is how your morning would begin:

It all starts when the alarm clock goes off anywhere from 4:00am to 4:30am. At this point, a normal office employee would jump in the shower but not a construction worker. Why? Because why bother taking a shower when you’re about to get extremely dirty. Besides, you showered the night before so you’re definitely clean enough.

You slip your jeans on (which you conveniently laid out on the floor prior to going to bed), then some socks, pull a t-shirt on, and either throw a ball cap on your head or wet your hair down. Or, if you’re real smart, you keep your head shaved so there’s no need to deal with a ball cap or brushing your hair. Your construction boots you keep in the car because they’re so filthy you don’t want them coming into the house.

You climb into your car and start it. While the engine warms up, you start thinking about which kind of coffee you’ll get this morning: French Vanilla, Hazel Nut, or French Roast. This is an important decision because you’ll be sipping it for the next hour while you’re on the road to work and you better choose one that you’re in the mood for.

You drive two blocks to the nearest 7-11, park your car and leave it running while you walk in to get your coffee (there’s no need to worry about someone stealing it because nobody else is up this early in the morning). You walk inside the convenience store, still wearing your socks, and nod to the clerk who gives you a sleepy I’ve-been-here-all-night look.

The good thing about getting your coffee this early in the morning is the clerks usually brew a fresh pot of coffee around this time and you’re the first customer to pour a cup.

You choose Vanilla Nut, pour a jumbo coffee, throw a few ice cubes in so the coffee doesn’t burn your tongue off, and add two helpings of creamer. You quietly pay for your coffee. Neither you nor the clerk say a single word to each other. You just nod good-bye and head out the door – nobody wants to talk this early in the morning.

For the next hour you’re driving on a nearly empty highway, passing darkened neighborhoods and staring out your window at a pitch black skyline; the sun is still at least 30 minutes away from warming up the horizon.

You’re cruising at about seventy miles an hour, sipping your coffee, and half-listening to a talk radio show. Most would find this part of the morning a little lonely, but I always enjoyed it. The silence, darkness, and vacant highway provides a rather nice time to zone-out and reflect on life – where am I going? Where have I been? What is important to me?

The last step to starting your day as a construction worker is parking your car and lacing up your boots.

You grab your bucket of tools and take a short walk from the parking lot to the base of the new building’s construction site where you see a catering truck parked at the curb (we affectionately call it a “roach coach”). Its awning is up and a dozen men are milling around – ordering coffee and breakfast burritos, telling cheap jokes to each other, and flirting with the young Mexican girl inside the truck cooking their food.

Downtown Los Angeles is still dark but the skyline is beginning to glow from the impending sunrise. The streets are completely empty. The traffic lights cycle from red to green even though there’s no traffic whatsoever. In both directions, homeless people line the sidewalks, laying side-by-side, curled up in their blankets atop pieces of cardboard. For them, it’s another long night on the downtown streets of Los Angeles coming to an end.

Soon the catering truck driver lowers the awning, starts his truck, and sputters away to another job site. As the sun finally rises, a security guard pulls shut the long gates that separate the construction site from downtown L.A.. You turn now, with your bucket of tools in hand, and walk into the under-construction high rise to finally start you work day.

Since ‘acne’ is acknowledged by human beings, many theories in describing its true cause are also put by them. And the search is not exhausted till date. Continuously researchers are coming up with new, innovative causes- that you might not have even imaged for the troubles that your acne was giving you.

The common causes outlined are unhygienic body conditions, excessive oil production from the oil glands of the skin, hormonal imbalance, excessive accumulation of dead skin, stress and tension and over-eating and consumption of oily, fried food. But have you ever given a thought to this: a bad digestive system can also aggravate or be the root cause of acne disaster you are trying to get rid of since long?

To understand this relationship more clearly, let’s first put some light on the working of our stomach. Our stomach is the house of all the food we consume. It also houses many acids, enzymes and bases that aid in the total digestion of the food. The food in a semi-digested form, leaves the stomach and travels to the pancreas, small intestines, large intestines and finally to the anus. Through this journey, all the glands help in the digestion process by contributing their share of enzymes.

Indigestion occurs when any one of the enzymes, produced by any one of the glands goes missing. Sample this, for proper digestion of food to take place in the stomach, presence of adequate amounts of hydrochloric acid or Hcl is very important. When there is scarcity of Hcl in the body, the body misses on the absorption of many important minerals. Deficiency of important minerals in the body in turn weakens the immune system. As your body becomes weak, it loses the capacity to fight back bacteria which itself is a major cause for acne problem.

Now when this food in a semi-digested from reaches pancreas, the enzymes present in the pancreas will try to compensate for the loss by producing an increased enzymatic activity. But if pancreas is also deficient in the enzymes content, the food tends to stay there and with passage of time starts producing toxins. These toxins are then evenly distributed throughout the blood leading to impure blood. And presence of impure blood is also one of the main causes of appearance of acne on face and on body.

Therefore the only natural and easy way to fight acne is to follow a healthy and nutritious diet. The food that you munch upon should be easy to digest and should have high fiber or roughage content. Besides, you should try to avoid oily food as much as you can. Water is also a good therapy for treating and fighting acne. Water helps in carrying with itself all the toxins produced during the process of digestion. It is also advised that you should eat regularly without missing on any of the meals. Try to incorporate as many fruits as you can.

Remember the golden rule, a healthy diet plan and a healthy life style is a route to a radiant, gorgeous and problem free skin.

There are a lot of details to consider when you are choosing a health care plan, whether it’s one offered through your employer or one you buy on your own. No matter what age you are, your health should be a primary concern, although young people often act as if they will live forever and sometimes postpone making health care decisions.

Here is a list of common mistakes that people make all the time when choosing a health care plan. They are in no particular order, and all are important to consider, carefully and completely. If you are not conversant with all the terminology or are finding it difficult to make the decisions, you should ask for help from a neutral third-party such as family member or friend. Don’t ask a health insurance company unless you want to hear a sales pitch!

Common mistakes
- You don’t check out your doctor, or any others – Although some healthcare plans require you to use a physician in their own network, other plans are more inviting. If you already have a physician, and are buying your own insurance, check with the doctor to see what plans he is a member of. If you do have to choose a new doctor, you should look into the health plan doctors’ credentials by contacting the AMA.

- You forget “location, location, location” – The location of your doctor or clinic, and the travel time required, are other factors you should consider when considering health care plans. Find out where the doctor is located and also look into the regular and emergency hours of the facility.

- You don’t consider specialists – If you already need specialist care, or think you may need to in the future, you need to know the health care plan’s procedures on using them. Some plans require you to contact a primary care physician, while others allow you to make specialist appointments directly.

- You don’t consider your own specialist – You should definitely find out if your current specialist is in the health care plan you are considering. If not, perhaps your specialist can refer you to one who is.

- You forget to check the policy on “pre-existing conditions” – Even though this should be a “no-brainer,” people forget to ask about the policies on pre-existing conditions. Coverage for pre-existing conditions varies widely among health plans. Some exclude them entirely, and will not even consider coverage, while others cover them fully. Many health care plans fall somewhere in the middle, offering coverage after a certain amount of time, or for a certain amount of time or expense. Rules promulgated by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act guarantees you coverage for your pre-existing conditions if you join a new group plan offered by your employer after being insured the previous year. Do your research to make sure you know what your policy covers.

Less common oversights
- You don’t ask about physicals and health screenings – Again, it seems an obvious thing to ask, but if you appreciate getting regular physicals and health screenings you should ensure that they are covered. Most “managed care” plans do cover these types of procedures, usually on an annual basis, but there are some plans that do not cover them. If you have children, make sure to ask if “well baby” check-ups, physicals and immunizations are covered.

- You forget about additional services – Everything, from prescription drug coverage to mental health care, is an important consideration. You need to consider which of the various additional services that you may need are, in fact, covered when you are comparing health care plans. Other examples of these additional services that may be important to you are drug and alcohol counseling and treatment, home health care, nursing home or extended care, hospices, experimental treatments, alternative and complementary medicine, chiropractic care and physical therapy.

Bottom line considerations
- You don’t price things out correctly – Once you know what you want in your health care plan you need to compare costs, and you need to do it right, which means covering all the bases. You will need to know exactly what deductibles must be paid first before the health care plan coverage starts paying, and don’t forget to ask if the deductible needs to be met before certain services can be utilized. Find out about “out of network” charges if you anticipate having to go beyond your plan facilities or physicians. Finally, there are co-payment, cap amounts and total-care limits you need to know about. Some plans have lifetime limits, some have lifetime and annual limits, and others have mixed formulas for making this determination. Get all the facts.

- You don’t check the exclusions – If you don’t read the exclusions list, you will not know what is not covered. You need to see if any condition you currently have, or that you expect to contract in the future, is included. This is an important bottom-line consideration since, if you don’t get this settled and dealt with up front, you will likely spend a great deal of money down the line to treat excluded conditions.

It is a difficult thing to look at your health in a dispassionate, dollar-oriented way, but that’s life. As we age, more of our energy goes into thinking and planning against death and disability, but the subject need not be morbid or depressing. Do your best to get a health care plan that covers what your particular needs are, and remind yourself that you are worth the trouble – and the expense.